At 38, Arijit Singh recently stunned fans and the Hindi film industry by announcing his retirement from playback singing. While several have expressed what they feel about Arijit’s choice, we spoke to Mohit Suri, whose films have consistently featured quintessential Arijit Singh songs, dating back to Aashiqui 2 and the iconic Tum Hi Ho. Composed by Mithoon, the song launched Arijit into stardom 13 years ago and defined his voice as synonymous with love and heartbreak. Suri last worked with him on Dhun from Saiyaara.

​On Arijit’s retirement from playback singing, Mohit said the decision didn’t surprise him. “I sensed it. He had reached a stage where he wanted to do more and not box himself into just one identity. You can’t limit his creativity. He doesn’t want to be remembered only as Arijit, the singer,” he said.

On a personal note, Mohit admits he is deeply disappointed, saying that a part of him feels like it has ended with the announcement.

He explains, “I don’t think Indian music can exist without Arijit. People see this as a full stop, but he’s not done yet. I’ve known him since he was Pritam da’s assistant. People think he was just fortunate, but that’s not true. He didn’t let himself break, and success was actually delayed for him. He’s an artiste who will never stop creating. Even if Arijit the singer slows down, he’ll be far more valuable to music and cinema. Once he sets his mind to something, he achieves it.”

​As Arijit dominated Bollywood music for over a decade, speculation grew about sidelined singers, alleged monopolies and his association with “sad songs.” Mohit, however, says Arijit’s biggest strength became a limitation imposed by others.

“Your best work often becomes the monkey on your back. Arijit sang all kinds of songs — we chose to highlight his heartbreak numbers,” he says, pointing to upbeat tracks like Ullu Ka Pattha and Galti Se Mistake from Jagga Jasoos as proof of his range. “We boxed him into Tum Hi Ho or Channa Mereya kind of songs.”

Dismissing favouritism and lobbying claims, Mohit is categorical. “Arijit never insisted on singing a song. In fact, he often pushed for the scratch singer to be retained, saying the song didn’t need him. That’s how secure he is — and many singers got breaks because of that.”

​On a parting note, we ask if Arijit’s voice could ever be replaced. “Everyone is special. I was deeply attached to KK sir, but while making Aashiqui 2, I realized I couldn’t use the same voice I associated with Emraan Hashmi for Aditya Roy Kapur. We found a new voice and that was Arijit.”

He adds that with Saiyaara, he introduced Faheem Abdullah for Ahaan Panday, showing that every generation finds its own voice. “That’s the way life works. New singers must find their space, just as Arijit once did. There cannot be another Arijit Singh. We depend on him emotionally, knowing he will nail it — but if he doesn’t make way, new talent won’t emerge. He is truly one of a kind. And yes, I’ll speak to him once he reads this.”

The body always tells you. During a shoot for ‘Single Salma’ in Lucknow, I felt unusually tired and a strange lump in my throat after an intense action sequence. I sat down for a bit, brushed it off, and told myself I’m fine. But something felt off. Around that time, singer KK passed away after suddenly falling ill during a performance. That shook all of us, made us think about health.

I decided to visit a doctor. I went for an ECG and 2D echo and both tests came back normal. I didn’t ignore it, but I didn’t dig deeper. I just assumed everything was fine.

It wasn’t. Months later, in December 2023, I faced a major cardiac episode that would transform my life in ways I hadn’t imagined. I was only in my mid-40s. But physically and emotionally, it changed everything for me. Physically, there are certain precautions I will have to take throughout my life to make sure something like that never happens again. I need to take regular medication, go for follow-ups and checkups, and listen to my doctors.

Emotionally, the impact has been even more profound. I had none of the four risk factors that trigger a heart attack — smoking, drinking, diabetes or hypertension — yet it happened. It brought realization about how uncertain life can be.

But there are many things within our control, and we must take care of those aspects. After an experience like that, you realize your priorities need to change. Your family becomes your number one priority. And to ensure they get quality time with you, you must take care of yourself. That also means sleeping well, for seven-eight hours daily, exercising four to five days a week and eating nutritious, timely meals.

By proper diet, I don’t mean surviving just on salads. I eat everything in moderation. I avoid fried and sugary foods, but I do consume a little ghee. Eating nutritious food is important, but eating on time is even more crucial. Maintain fixed timings for your meals. Have dinner as early as possible as it gives your stomach enough time to digest and rest. The best diet won’t help if your meal timings are erratic.

My earlier discipline of clean eating and regular workouts played a big role in my recovery. I do think the Covid vaccine and post-pandemic health effects may have triggered complications. Still, my active lifestyle helped me bounce back faster. It’s important to understand that nutrition, regular exercise, good sleep and a balanced diet strengthen your body. If it had not been for these habits, things could have been very different. Your body repays the care you give it.

Stress is a part of life. That said, I also believe that we need to learn to manage it. You have to learn to let go of what’s not in your control. I’ve realized that wisdom comes with time, but when someone shares their learnings with you, it is important to listen. Don’t wait for your own crisis to teach you the same thing the hard way.

A year ago, on this date, singer KK (Krishnakumar Kunnath), 53, died of a heart attack soon after a live performance in Kolkata. His friends, fans and members of the music industry were shocked and devastated by the singer’s sudden demise.

Remembering him on his death anniversary, Shaan, who was among KK’s close friends, said, “It’s been a year. I know time will move on, but KK will continue to mesmerize everyone. I always feel the soulfulness and connection in his renditions...even more now when he is not with us. I feel he’s telling us that he is here with us and in our hearts forever.”

Over the years, Shaan and KK have sung many hit songs together and also performed to packed auditoriums.

An emotional Shaan said, “When I sing our duets on stage now, I get very emotional. We had so many superhit songs like, It’s The Time To Disco, Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe, Dus Bahane Karke Le Gaye Dil and O Humdum Suniyo Re. I had never imagined that I would one day sing Yaaron Dosti as a tribute to KK.”

He added, “Today, I can picture his cherubic smile, easy unassuming demeanour and voice brimming with life. God bless Jyoti, Nakul and Tamara (KK’s wife, son and daughter). KK defined the term family man better than anyone I know.”

--------------------------------------

Today (May 31) marks the first death anniversary of one of the most popular singers in India — Krishnakumar Kunnath aka KK. The Pal and Yaaron hitmaker suffered a heart attack last year during a concert in Kolkata (West Bengal).

In a chat with us, his close friend, singer Shaan, says, “KK and I were like family. When I heard the news about his death, I was in disbelief. I thought it was a prank. But I was shattered when I learnt it was true. He wouldn’t smoke or drink and struck a work-life balance. I can’t believe it’s been a year since he left us.”

Shaan and KK recorded over 25 songs together. Recalling those days, the 50-year-old adds, “We had our best time in the studio and during our live shows. KK was very disciplined and was always on time. We did some great songs together. In fact, some of them went on to become anthem hits such as Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe (Dil Chahta Hai; 2001), It’s The Time To Disco (Kal Ho Naa Ho; 2003) and Dus Bahaane (Dus; 2005).”

Unlike many others in the industry who like to give a glimpse of their lives on social media, KK was guarded about his personal life. “He wasn’t on WhatsApp or social media. He didn’t attend parties, as he felt parties mein koi serious conversations nahin hoti. He preferred meeting people one-on-one and having engaging chats,” says Shaan.

Ask if his sudden death acted as an eye-opener for him, and the Tanha Dil singer says, “My family insisted I get an MRI done. Thankfully, it was all fine. But KK’s death made me realise that life is so unpredictable. It’s important to live in the present.”

In May last year, singer KK walked out of an overcrowded concert venue in Kolkata feeling uneasy and hours later, he was dead. Singer Shaan’s concert in December 2022 in Hooghly, West Bengal, saw a stampede-like situation that left many injured. Last month, a bottle was thrown at singer Kailash Kher during his show in Hampi, Karnataka. Most recently, singer Sonu Nigam was manhandled during an attempt for a selfie at his concert in Mumbai. All of these incidents have added to the growing concern of mismanagement and safety, or the lack of it, at live shows.

Instances of mismanagement largely occur when the crowd gets unmanageable, says singer Divya Kumar of Jee Karda (Badlapur, 2015) fame. “Organizers are so keen on doing an event that they forget other issues. They think, ‘Artiste ek baar aa jaaye, baaki hum handle kar lenge’. That leads to mismanagement,” he says, as he goes on to recall a gig of his with composer-singer Amit Trivedi in Prayagraj (UP): “It was a college show. Ground mein maara-maari chal rahi thi. While performing, a bottle was thrown at my co-singer. There was some substance in it, but we couldn’t figure out what it was. We stopped [the concert] immediately. Amit sir was upset, he said we won’t perform.”

“Cheezein toh bahut improve hui hain,” says Kher, adding, “But, the craze for selfies has gripped everyone. People get overexcited, forget their limits and how they should behave. Organizers apne level par achha sambhalte hain, but the crowd goes berserk and security lapse ho jaata hai.” But, the singer admits artistes’ green rooms are “more secluded now”.

Composer-singer Salim Merchant says, “It’s very easy to blame the organizers. The one thing that’s taken for granted is that people attending will be well-behaved. One organizing team can have 100 security persons, but what about the 15,000 who come for the show? In Sonu’s case, the person (wrongdoer) was the organizer of the show. How do you stop this?”

Singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya is also of the opinion that when venues tend to get unexpectedly overcrowded, organizers are in a fix despite having security measures in place. “In Mumbai, venues are small. The crowd turnout is at least 10,000, even if the capacity is 5,000. How can anyone control this big a crowd?” he reasons.

KK’s song Yaaron has been among the most iconic songs on friendship. The evergreen track composed by Leslee Lewis has been on the top of the music list of most of the singer’s fans for over two decades now. Music lovers around the world were shocked and devastated by the singer’s sudden demise on May 31. Now, Leslee has recreated the song with KK’s children, Nakul Krishna Kunnath and Taamara Kunnath, as a tribute to him.

In an exclusive chat, Leslee tells Bombay Times, “More than two decades after we composed the song, I have recreated it with KK’s children Nakul Krishna, Taamara and his band. What made this experience special was that we recorded the song at the same studio, Purple Haze in Bandra, where KK and I had first recorded the original 23 years ago.”

The musician gets emotional as he shares, “Years ago, the day Nakul was born was when I gave KK his first jingle. It was a special moment and a great experience for me to record Yaaron in the same studio with KK’s children. I saw the awe in their eyes as they reminisced all that their father had told them about recording this track, which was his first song with me. I have technically got his children to sing with him because I have retained KK’s lines and made Nakul and Taamara sing along with his voice. It was a magical moment. After KK’s sudden demise, this was the first time that his children came out to record a song.”

Nakul shares, “Recording dad’s song with Leslee uncle meant so much to Taamara and me. Standing there, in that studio, we felt like dad was there with us and that he was watching us. It was a surreal experience for my sister, my mother (Jyothy Krishna) and me.”

On August 23, the family will be organising a special concert in memory of the singer on the occasion of his birthday. “My sister and I wanted to do something special for his birthday, and so we will be singing a few of dad’s songs at this #NeverEndingTribute concert,” shares Nakul. Singers like Shaan, Papon, Benny Dayal, along with Leslee and others will also perform at the concert.

Elaborating on the concert, Nakul says, “We are very excited about the concert and have been rehearsing a lot with dad’s band. This will be a special event where prominent musicians will sing dad’s songs and also share anecdotes and memories of my father. It will be more than just a music concert. We want everyone to know the camaraderie that dad shared with all his colleagues so that everyone remembers him in a positive light.”

Bhoomi Trivedi, who recently performed in Turkey and Dubai, says that it feels great to be performing abroad again. “The last time I performed abroad was at Doha in 2019. A few months after that, the Coronavirus pandemic struck and my shows in Australia and the USA had to be cancelled. Although things started opening up gradually last year, I wasn’t keen on travelling till things were more relaxed. Finally, there is some sense of normalcy and so, I agreed to perform abroad after more than two years. It was an amazing feeling to perform in Dubai and Turkey. When you are in India, the audiences get to hear you live every now and then but when you are abroad, the audiences probably look forward to our performances more eagerly because they don’t get such opportunities too often,” Bhoomi shares.

The singer adds, “In the next few months, I have concerts lined up in Singapore, Australia, Nigeria, the USA and Canada. Till November, I will be performing in at least two countries every month, which includes pre-Navaratra and post-Navaratra concerts. So, these are really exciting times for me as an artiste. ”

Talking about the audience response to her recent concerts, Bhoomi shares, “The moment my name was announced during the Dubai concert, the audience just went crazy and it felt so good. I was craving for this love which you get while performing live. Although I worked on many songs even amid the pandemic, such a reaction reassures you that the audience is receptive to your work. Also, there were families that met me on flights and at airports, and they had good things to say about my work. As a singer, I can’t ask for more. ”

Asked about what 2022 has been like for her, she says, “In 2021, I produced a lot of songs and felt very happy when the song Ghani Cool Chori from the film Rashmi Rocket was received well by the audience. This has been an exciting year too and with my band, we are working on some new as well as old songs. I also have sung for a couple of upcoming Gujarati films, and some albums and Bollywood songs are in the pipeline too. I am in a happy space right now. ”

After KK’s unfortunate death, a lot of singers have spoken about how event organisers in India need to make sure that venues are not overcrowded, and artistes feel comfortable. Asked about her experiences, Bhoomi says, “It was really unfortunate and heart-breaking to lose a legend like KK. We certainly need more discipline at the venues. If the capacity of an auditorium is 500, organisers must be strict and ensure that not a single extra person is allowed at the venue. Here, often the mindset is such that capacity 500 hai toh kya hua, we can accommodate a few extra people, log stairs par baith jayenge. Having too many people inside can cause discomfort to the artiste as well as the audience.”

She adds, “After one of my performances in Dubai, I had friends who wanted to meet me in the green room but even after I requested the security staff, they didn’t allow them. In India, audiences often mob the singer backstage after a performance and ask for selfies. While they do it out of love, there is a need to ensure that the artiste doesn’t feel uncomfortable at any stage.”

Akriti Kakar, who was recently in the capital to perform at a wedding, loves Delhi and Delhiites. “Dilliwallahs know how to party, how to celebrate; they do it in style, with a great amount of panache and flamboyance,” she says. Being a Dilli wali kudi, performing at a Delhi wedding was a lot of fun. Talking about it, she says, “People here enjoy all genres of music – be it Punjabi, Indie, filmi, or the current UK vibe that is trending in the music industry.”

Having recorded her first Odiya song recently, the Iski Uski singer, who has sung songs in Bangla and Marathi, too, says that it’s important for artistes to push their boundaries. “Not just language, but going beyond personal rendition style is also important for us singers. There’s so much competition today, and to stay relevant, one needs to constantly reinvent themselves.”

Akriti feels that the past two years have played a key role in making the audience more self-aware. “Experimenting and thinking out of the box is important to stay relevant, as the audience is ready for new things,” she adds.

“Independent music is a personal expression of who an artiste is, and it contributes greatly to making Indian music shine at the global level,” says the singer, who has Thomkiya Thomkiya, Payal to her credit. She adds, “Singers have waited to add ‘indie’ before their name, now they are not scared of making independent music along with being a playback singer. Indie artistes like Prateek Kuhad and Ritviz never took the Bollywood route and still have a huge following.”

She admits being scared before entering the indie music scene, but the wave is changing now, she says. “It’s challenging, but it is great that I’m independently making music and releasing it myself,” she adds.

Many singers, including Akriti, voiced their concerns regarding safety at events and concerts after KK’s death. She says, “I hope the change comes about. If the biggest artistes in the country lay a mandate, then life can become better for artistes who are just starting out.”

As she shares her learnings from this unfortunate incident, she says, “We must take care of our bodies. We love our work so much that we put our health on the backseat. When I step on stage, all weakness leaves my body. Kahin se koi taakat aati hai aur hum kar lete hain. It’s because music is my passion. KK let his passion supersede his health that day. As artistes, we let this happen many times.”

Talking about her future plans, the singer says, “Thankfully, concerts have been a beautiful constant in my life. Having started from Delhi, and then moving to Mumbai, which are both home to me, I feel immense gratitude that I am getting to perform for people across the globe,” she says while hinting at creating more independent music. “Things that I am not able to do in movies, I’ll do them myself,” she adds.

After KK’s sudden death following his concert at Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata, several reports stated that the venue was overcrowded, while those present at the concert added that the singer was seen sweating and complaining of uneasiness. After making his way back to the hotel, when KK’s discomfort did not subside, the he was rushed to a hospital where he was declared ‘brought dead’. A subsequent report quoted a doctor who conducted KK’s autopsy as saying that he “could have been saved if CPR was administered on time”.

Shocked and shaken following the artiste’s demise, several singers are calling for stringent safety and emergency facilities at concerts. As a part of their pre-requisites, they are now requesting that doctors, medical experts and assistance be on standby at the venue.

Akriti Kakar says she was deeply disturbed by the news of the singer passing away, and has not performed since the incident. She says, “Now, I feel that, most importantly, we artistes should start putting our foot down and walk out the moment we don’t feel fine physically. It could something be as simple as a strange headache. We should never take our health lightly.”

She adds that “as a mandatory requirement, we are asking for ample fans on stage for the band and myself. We are also asking for a medical expert to be present at all times for any assistance. ”

Shilpa Rao shares, “Honestly, we didn’t think about this much before, but now I feel it is necessary to take precautions to avoid any sort of health-related issues at the venue. It can be for anybody – the band, an audience member or the organizer. Be it first aid, a doctor, oxygen or an ambulance – I think all of this is a must at any venue, especially for large capacity events. ”

“Following the sad demise of our friend KK, I think our entire fraternity should be more cautious. We are already insisting on having medical assistance and emergency facilities at every show. I have become much more careful about my routine during shows. I make sure that I and my team get ample rest and that the conditions are conducive for us to function smoothly. A performer puts in more than 100% on stage for each show and I feel all organisers should take utmost care of performers who work with them regularly,” says Richa Sharma.

Nikhita Gandhi, who was set to perform at the same venue as KK in Kolkata, says, “Organizers are now avoiding indoor venues for Bollywood acts, as they attract a large number of people, which can get unmanageable. Following KK’s death, there was a lot of discussion about how the venue (where he performed) was overcrowded and not sufficiently ventilated. From the venue where KK performed, our show shifted to an outdoor space, and we were quite thankful for that. We have now also requested the organizers for our upcoming shows to make medical facilities available at the venue for any kind of emergency.”

Singer KK’s sudden demise last week left everyone – the music industry and his fans – shocked and heartbroken. He was laid to rest in Mumbai on June 2. He had an underlying heart condition that was aggravated by lack of oxygen (hypoxia), which led to a fatal cardiac arrest, the final post-mortem report has stated. As love and condolences from his grieving fans and colleagues continue to pour in, so do various reports on how the show at Kolkata’s Nazrul Mancha was allegedly overcrowded, mismanaged and lacked medical and emergency facilities. It has sparked nationwide conversations on how concerts and live events in India need sharper focus in areas that the venue of KK’s final performance apparently lacked.

Armaan Malik was among the first to raise his concern over this on social media. He wrote, “Concerts in India need better management, medical and emergency facilities. I’ve seen and been a part of far too many shows that don’t serve the right conditions for us to perform in. But yet, being the artists we are, we continue with performing because we don’t want to disappoint our fans. (sic)”.

Ever since, several singers, composers and musicians, who perform at live gigs, have weighed in and pointed out multiple issues that pose a threat to their and audience safety during live concerts.

Pota, lead singer of Bangla band Cactus, who performed at Nazrul Mancha a day before KK, says, “The performance pressure remains high when we have back-to-back concerts. We are performers and want to entertain people, but not at the cost of our own lives, or for that matter, anyone else’s life. We performed at the same stage of Nazrul Mancha just a day before KK. It was overcrowded; there were around 100-150 extra people. But the next day, the crowd was more than double of the hall capacity. That really puts a question on their management.”

Euphoria’s Palash Sen, who has been performing live since the ’90s, says he insists on adequate safety and security measures, apart from sound, light and technical support. “We have always had a strict rider that states things specifically for halls, auditoriums or open-air stadiums. That is scanned and approved by us before we go for the concert. After this sad and shocking incident, I am going to insist on having a paramedic backstage henceforth. Ensuring proper medical arrangements and keeping oxygen cylinders handy are basic necessities. We have hours of high-energy performances and it can get strenuous. If the artiste is unwell, they must take a call soon. Since I am a doctor myself, there have been instances when I have provided medical assistance to my team members and even to people in the audience.”

Shilpa Rao says organisers should ensure that they don’t exceed the capacity of a venue. “Plus, there should be medical emergency facilities, not just for the artiste, but also for the audience. Say, if a fan is not feeling well during the concert, there should be proper care and medical facilities to get them the right aid at the right time,” she adds.

Composer-singer Jeet Gannguli says, “We need auditoriums that are well-equipped with disaster management teams, emergency response systems, and fire safety compliant. Ambulances, too, should be at the venue for medical emergencies. There should be a strict control on the crowd allowed inside an auditorium.”

He adds that before using special effects, such as the blasts of the confetti machines and the smoke machines, all precautionary measures must be taken.

Talking about performing in other countries, Kailash Kher says the facilities provided during their concerts abroad are way better. “When we go abroad to perform, the organisers take artistes’ and crowd safety much more seriously. They always have a fire brigade, an ambulance and a doctor readily available in case of any mishaps. I know people have immense love for us and they love our work, but there should be respect for our personal space and comfort too.”

Singer-songwriter Silajit Majumder says when he goes for a show, he makes sure to inform the organizers about a few things he requires. “The basic necessities may vary from performer to performer. But many a time, we aren’t even provided with the most basic things. Instead, we are asked why we need this and that, and why we can’t manage with what is being given. So, it’s better to make it clear at the outset. The problem with some organizers is that once they hire us, they feel their job is done,” he adds.

Singer KK’s last live act was at a college event in Kolkata. He had performed at countless such gigs in the past, but how it all went down this time around is something that has got everyone talking about the lack of infrastructure for music performances in India. Many videos that have surfaced on the internet show the late singer sweating profusely on stage, as his team asked for better air conditioning. In addition to that, there were no medical facilities or an ambulance at the venue to tackle an emergency. KK had to walk all the way to his car, surrounded by people.

Singer Armaan Malik tweeted, “Concerts in India need better mgmt, medical & emergency facilities. I’ve seen and been part of far too many shows that don’t serve the right conditions for us to perform in. But yet, being the artists we are, we continue with performing coz we don’t wanna disappoint our fans (sic).”

Singer Shibani Kashyap told NDTV that KK’s concert was a “huge eye-opener”. She said, “There should always be medical aid and ambulance on standby.”

Composer Ehsaan Noorani of the Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy trio says, “Unfortunately, we don’t see ambulances on standby at concerts in India. All the concerts held abroad are insured. This (safety) is something we need to start thinking about. I remember we were once performing at a show and there was ruckus outside with people trying to get in, and a kid fell over a fence. Sometimes, it’s also up to the audience to behave in a particular way.”

Another challenge that singers face during indoor gigs is when the air conditioning is not up to the mark. “Live performances are physically challenging. And it’s summer time, too. The temperature on stage is always higher due to the equipment, lights and LED screens,” says singer Amit Mishra.

What is surprising is that when performing abroad or when international artistes perform in India, it’s a different picture altogether. “Forget the performer, even audience members can black out. Concerts abroad have a team to pull out such people and give them oxygen and CPR. When a foreign band comes to perform in India, that’s always stipulated.”

Singer Mamta Sharma says security arrangements for performers is also a key area of concern at venues. “We, as artistes, are entirely focused on our show, even if we feel uneasy. Organisers should have better security facilities around the stage, especially near the entry and exit points. Fans get too close to us for selfies, and any mishap can happen,” she rues.

An ambulance adorned with flowers and a picture of KK, carried the singer's body to the crematorium

Kolkata: Cops are sending reports of the postmortem and viscera of singer KK for histopathological test after the autopsy examination showed that he had a fatty layer around the heart that had turned white and the valves were stiff when the heart was opened, police sources said on Thursday. Histopathology is the study of tissues that can reveal blockages.

“Doctors have said the stiffness in the heart develops over a period of time. Hence, the post-mortem and viscera reports will be sent for histopathological tests that can reveal blockages,” a police source said.

Cops added that 10 different medicines, which deal with gastric and liver and Vitamin C, including some ayurvedic and homeopathic medicines, were found in his body along with multiple antacids and syrups that provide quick relief in acidity, heartburn and gas.

“It was learnt that he frequently used to pop in antacid pills. On the morning of May 31, he told his manager that he was low on energy. On that night he had told his wife that his shoulder and arms were paining,” a police source said.

Commenting on the investigation at Nazrul Mancha, the source said the fire extinguisher was opened before KK had reached.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, officers of New Market police station questioned one of the celebrity managers of Kolkata-based BlackEyed Event House that had arranged for KK to sing at the event. The person was with KK and his manager Hitesh Bhatt in the car when he was brought to the hotel from the Nazrul Mancha venue.

Cops also spoke to the driver of the car, Etwari Yadav who told cops that KK was feeling uneasy during the ride back to the hotel.

Like most members of the music fraternity, singer Shilpa Rao is devastated by the sudden death of singer KK. Rao met him around 10 days ago and cannot come to terms with the fact that he’s no more. “We met at a concert and I remember hugging him for two minutes straight. I didn’t know that would be our last meeting,” says the singer, who collaborated with KK for songs such as Khuda Jaane from Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008), Koi Jaane Na from Hijack (2008), Oya Oya from Horn Ok Pleassss (2009) and Apna Bombay Talkies from Bombay Talkies (2013).

Talking about the bond she shared with the late singer, the 38-year-old says, “I believe a bond with a fellow musician is inseparable because their music lives on in our hearts forever. I was fortunate that I had the opportunity of opening his concerts. Watching him perform live was always a learning experience for me. The first time I met him after recording Khuda Jaane, we performed it live together. Even when I was new in the industry, he really supported me. He was a really supportive and caring person.”

Ask Rao if she felt he was unwell when they met recently and she says he looked fine. “I was just so happy to bump into him that we didn’t really catch up on other things,” says the singer, who considers Khuda Jaane her most memorable association with KK: “From recording the song in the studio to performing live with KK, it was a great experience for me. Khuda Jaane would have been incomplete without him.”

As a musician, Rao learnt several things from the Pal singer. “He always said, ‘Let your music do all the work, you don’t need to do anything apart from that (focussing on music). Always stay the same person you are and make sure your behaviour doesn’t change with time. Whether someone is new or established, treat everyone with the same kind of respect.’ I would hold on to these learnings forever,” ends Rao.

The bond between singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan and late singer KK was one filled with love and mutual admiration, and it goes back to the time when they hadn’t even entered showbiz. That’s why Mahadevan says it’s unbelievable that he’s talking about KK in the past tense. “We had a long association even before we got into films; we were buddies, like a gang. We used to sing jingles together and that transitioned into films,” he says.

Mahadevan goes on to share that KK was a complete family man and used to talk about them all the time: “He used to take off on long holidays with them, cutting off from the world. Also, KK wasn’t bothered about social media; he didn’t even have a WhatsApp number. If you wanted to reach out to him, you had to call him.”

They have given audiences classic party-starters like Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe (Dil Chahta Hai, 2001) and It’s The Time To Disco (Kal Ho Naa Ho, 2003), which still reign in popular playlists about 20 years later, among numerous other hits. “More than that (creating hits), KK would bring a lot of energy into the studio whenever he entered. Months back, we met on a TV show. We were all teasing him, ‘You are like Benjamin Button, you are ageing in reverse!’ He was looking fabulous,” the 55-year-old says.

What’s surprising to many is that KK, despite being an accomplished artiste, didn’t receive many awards in his lifetime. Mahadevan says that the late singer “wasn’t worried about how many likes his songs got”. He adds, “KK just enjoyed what he was doing. He was only choosy about his concerts.”

Kolkata: The first among several tell-tale signs of Bollywood singer KK’s unease in his last stage performance at south Kolkata’s Nazrul Mancha on Tuesday was something uncharacteristic — he hurried offstage without singing ‘Pal’, his signature show-ender. But no one caught the signals.

Krishnakumar Kunnath, known by his stage name KK, died of a massive cardiac arrest an hour after the concert, where the crowd count was nearly three times the auditorium’s capacity. His death triggered a debate on Wednesday on the level of physical stress performers suffer in overcrowded, stifling venues.

The 53-year-old did not finish his 20-song set with ‘Pal’, leaving in a hurry after the 19th. His fans always expect ‘Pal’— ending with the line “Hum rahe ya na rahe, yaad ayenge ye pal” — to be the electrifying closing part.

Second among the signs was that he was sweating profusely and requested for a drone camera to fly over his head, so that he could get some air from its rotors. Third, he kept asking the organisers to switch off the spotlights trained on him, probably because he could not bear the heat. Fourth — and this came to light only on Wednesday — was cops finding several sachets of antacid in his hotel room, an indicator that the singer had felt some uneasiness in his chest.

Cops also learnt that the singer had complained of “joint pain” on Monday night.

But as long as he was on stage, it was an energetic performance and he spent every ounce of his energy on it — jumping, blowing kisses, shaking hands with fans, posing for selfies and goading the audience to sing along. KK was given a gun salute at Rabindra Sadan by the Bengal government on Wednesday in the presence of CM Mamata Banerjee and the singer’s family—wife Jyothy, son Nakul and daughter Tamara.

When KK, took to the stage at Kolkata’s Nazrul Mancha on Tuesday evening for Sir Gurudas Mahavidyalaya’s fest, Utkarsh 2022 – no one could have imagined that this show would be his last. The singer passed away shortly after the concert, reportedly of a massive cardiac arrest.

The singer was in Kolkata for two back-to-back shows – one on Monday and another on Tuesday – both of which drew full houses. According to those present at his concert on Tuesday, right after wrapping up the show, at around 8 pm, he complained of uneasiness. He made his way back to his central Kolkata hotel, but the discomfort did not subside. He was then rushed to a private hospital in south Kolkata where he was declared brought dead.

Speaking to us, a student, who was present at the concert, shared, “He wasn’t well on Tuesday – one could tell. He was sweating profusely and kept going backstage in between the set for a breather. He was struggling to wrap up the concert. The last song he sang was Pal and soon after, complained to his team of uneasiness. He was immediately escorted off the stage. That was the last time we saw him.”

Another student from Vivekananda College, who attended the concert on Monday, shared, “The only thing noticeable was that he kept asking for the AC to be turned up. We assumed it was because the auditorium was packed and he was quite energetic on stage.”

Music composer and KK’s long-time friend Jeet Gannguli said the singer’s untimely demise has left him devastated. Speaking to us, he said, “I was having dinner with my wife at a restaurant when I got a call from a colleague. I immediately rang up KK’s manager, who was crying inconsolably. I rushed to the hospital but it was all over by then.”

According to Jeet, the singer, on his way back to the hotel, complained of the heat and humidity. “He asked the chauffeur to increase the AC’s fan speed. On being told that the AC was running at full strength, he said he was feeling unusually hot and was also experiencing muscle cramps on his legs and arms,” he said.

Jeet, who has known KK for over 24 years and has worked with him on film albums like Aashiqui 2, Raaz 3D and Sadak 2, said he was not just a versatile singer but a fantastic human being. “He was such a gentle person. There was a lot to learn from him. Never did he turn up at the studio without rehearsing a song. He was a dedicated artiste. Tonight, when I held his hand at the hospital, it seemed as though he’d gone off to sleep. Clad in the concert clothes, he looked like he was taking a nap and would wake up for his next set,” Jeet added.

"It’s been a great journey," KK said with a smile when we sat down for an interview in 2016. The singer opened up about his journey and career aspirations. Excerpts:

When you sing other musicians’ tunes for 20 years, you tend to get lost as a musician. Now, I feel like exploring myself more as an independent artiste. When you have done a lot of good work, there comes a point when you want to utilise the experience you have garnered to better yourself and your music.

Winning or not winning an award doesn’t affect me. As a singer, I haven’t felt any lesser by not getting awards. I just like to do my work in the best possible manner. I am happy getting good songs.

I’ve always taken playback easy. I don’t believe in doing something just for the heck of it. I feel kaam aayega toh kar lenge. But, I really enjoy working with the newer Bollywood composers.

I feel the younger talent getting fame has helped. If you talk about reality show artistes, they start performing at corporate shows and gigs at lower costs and earn more over the years. So no one runs out of work. Talking about survival, it’s subjective. If you’ve come here only to perform and have a good life, it’s fine. But if you want to make a mark as a playback singer, not getting work might become depressing.

The news of his passing away came as a big shock to me. KK was the voice behind my first hit song, Aashayein in Iqbal [2005, which was composed by Salim-Sulaiman Merchant]. I have some of the best memories behind that, which incidentally was not even recorded while we were filming Iqbal. We had shot certain portions, keeping in mind that a song would come during the scene, but our director Nagesh [Kukunoor] wasn’t sure whether to put it or not.

After the shoot, during the edit, he came home and showed us the scratch version of KK’s song. Deepti [wife], Elahe [Kukunoor’s wife] and I instantly loved it. Aashayein was so soulful, add KK’s voice to that [and the song seemed] almost divine and inspirational. We got a phenomenal response for the song, the nation loved it. After working in the industry for 18 years, I am still introduced on stage with that song, which is the power of the song and his voice. 

The irony is that KK and I have never met in all these years, though we have spoken on the phone several times. My friend, Tanay Gajjar — a sound recording engineer — worked on KK’s shows. KK always reminisced about the phenomenal response the song, Aashayein received from people.

As per what I’ve heard, KK was a gentle, humble, and committed singer, who was passionate about his work. He would go to sleep early, practice yoga and lead a disciplined lifestyle. When something like this happens, it shakes you up. Wonder if the running around we do for work and the pressure we handle, is even worth it?

It all began with a call from Hariharan. He had called me to say that there was a [good] singer from Delhi, and asked if he could send him to me. I told him to do so. This young boy had a great persona and voice, and was in awe of me. He’d often say that he dreamt about the fact that I would make his debut album. I would tell him [it was impossible] as I was busy doing jingles at the time, and albums then were not [given importance]. Soon, I started to call him [to record] the jingles I was working on. That’s how people heard of KK.

One day, I collated his jingles and took them to Sony, [suggesting] that they consider signing him on. They liked his voice, and asked me to compose his album. Initially, I refused, but they said that if I wouldn’t [compose] it, they were not sure of getting him on board. So, I decided to go ahead, and that’s how Pal (1999) was made.

I loved the way he sang. I knew his voice, and hence, was able to compose something that would make him sound great. It was my job to compose a piece that he could sing effortlessly, and make him shine. He would come home, and I’d tell him how to render the song so as to evoke the right emotions. He owned the song, and how!

KK was a complete package — a young guy with a lovely smile, long hair, and great voice. More than anything, he had passion. He stuck around for so long, even though his album wasn’t getting made. 

I remember, once a smaller label offered him the chance to cut an album, and he sought my advice. When I told him to hold on, he took my word for it. He had that kind of faith in me. If he had signed a smaller label, we would definitely not have had Pal and Yaaron Dosti. When the album [was released], he reminded me, ‘It was my dream to have you compose my first album.’ I saw him dream that dream, and fulfill it. 

He would often promise me that he’d feed me dosa, because that’s something he prided himself on. He never kept that promise. Maybe one day, I’ll meet him and we’ll have that dosa.

I was his mentor, so when he’d come over, we used to talk about life. He was easy to get on with. He was famous for his voice, not his marketing skills. He was called [for recordings] because he sounded good. I’d expose him to things he didn’t know about. He eventually became busy, but our equation never changed. He had become popular in the commercial world, but he always respected me, and considered me his mentor. I find it ironic that he made his debut with Pal. That was the song that brought him to you, and also the song that took him away from you, because it’s the last one he sang at that show.

-----------------------------------

KK was a phenomenal singer. He was the sweetest and most humble guy. You wouldn’t find him jumping around. He was always at home, chilling, doing things he loved. He was never a public man.

I still remember how our first album Pal came together in 1999. He had come to me saying, ‘I always wanted my album to be made by you.’ I said, ‘Theek hai, but you are young. If not an album, we will do something else.’ He hung around, so I called him for jingles. He then got singing offers from smaller companies and asked me what he should do. I told him to not do it: ‘You will get lost in the mix, keep waiting.’

So he waited for a long time. When I took his jingles to a big label and said they should cut an album with him, they said, ‘Wow, okay you compose it.’ I told them I am working on Asha (Bhosle) ji’s album and I didn’t have time. They said if I didn’t do it, they won’t make the album. I wanted to help KK, as he was a great guy and amazing singer. That’s how Pal happened. I still remember him rehearsing the lines, Hum rahein ya na rahein kal.

We stayed in touch over the years, but it had been quite some time since we spoke. We bumped into each other at a store [a few months ago]. He didn’t receive many awards [in his career], but I don’t think he was award centric. He just wanted to sing and get his songs out there.

Kolkata: Singer Krishnakumar Kunnath, aka KK, whose lilting voice cascades through an oeuvre of timeless odes to love and friendship, died of suspected cardiac arrest late Tuesday shortly after what was to be his last concert in front of a packed audience at Kolkata’s Nazrul Mancha. He was 54.

KK, whose discography includes generational songs like Pal, Yaaron Dosti, Tadap Tadap Aankhon Mein Teri, etc, had the audience tapping and clapping to his music on stage from 7 pm to 9 pm, after which he returned to his hotel at Esplanade in the heart of the city. He complained of chest pain moments later and was taken to CMRI Hospital, around 5 km away, where he was declared dead on arrival.

“Singer KK was brought dead to our hospital. The body has been kept in our mortuary for the night, although it has been formally handed over to the police,” the hospital said.

Music director Jeet Gannguli, who worked with KK in multiple films and was among the first to reach the hospital, said the singer showed no apparent sign of illness before his sudden death. “He was extremely fit, and would always ask me to take care. He was a great friend. I can’t believe this has happened.”

Minister Arup Biswas, who was also at CMRI with singer-composer Anupam Roy, said the authorities were in touch with KK’s family in Mumbai.

KK was in the city since Monday to perform at two college fests. On Tuesday, he was performing for Gurudas College at Nazrul Mancha along with fellow singers Satish Gajmer and Subhalaxmi.

“He was brilliant at the show and the showstopper. He performed for two hours non-stop, jumping and dancing while singing one chartbuster after another. The auditorium was jam packed. It was so crowded that audiences also felt suffocated,” said Kajari Biswas, a student of Calcutta University.